Lebanon's caretaker prime minister returned to Beirut on Friday, saying dialogue is the only way out of the country's political crisis after a Hezbollah-led coalition toppled his Western-backed government.

Lebanon hung between fears of all-out war and hopes of political compromise Sunday as government supporters and opponents battled with rockets and machine guns in the mountains overlooking the capital.

Heavy fighting broke out between pro and anti-government supporters in northern Lebanon lasting into the early hours Sunday morning, in the latest development in the Lebanese crisis, security officials reported.

Hezbollah gunmen melted off the streets of Beirut Saturday, heeding an army call to pull the fighters out after the Shiite militants demonstrated their military might in a power struggle with the U.S.-backed government.

Hezbollah gunmen melted off the streets of Beirut Saturday, heeding an army call to pull the fighters out after the Shiite militants demonstrated their military might in a power struggle with the U.S.-backed government.

Shiite Hezbollah gunmen seized nearly all of the Lebanese capital's Muslim sector from Sunni foes loyal to the U.S.-backed government on Friday following the country's worst sectarian clashes since the bloody 15-year civil war.

Explosions and gunfire rang out across the Lebanese capital Wednesday as Hezbollah backers trying to enforce a strike against the U.S.-backed government clashed with government supporters and blocked roads.

Throngs of Lebanese turned out Thursday for two opposing Beirut gatherings Shiite Muslims supporters of Hezbollah to bid farewell to its slain top commander Imad Mughniyeh, and their pro-Western opponents at a downtown square to mark former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's 2005 assassination.